New minimum wage hike in R-XI effective May 1

DAVAO CITY April 25 (PIA)- Minimum wage earners in the Davao Region will get a P10 increase in the Cost of Living Allowance which will be effective this coming May 1.

The additional P10.00 in the worker’s COLA will up the minimum wage of the region from P260- P291 to a range of P270.00- P301.00. This is the second tranche of the P15.00 COLA increase set under Wage Order No. RB XI-17 issued last December 2011. The first tranche of P5.00 was implemented in January 1 of this year.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-XI) issued the Wage Order No. RB XI-17 which sets the pay of non-agricultural workers and those employed in the retail and service establishment with more than ten workers to P301.00 per day.

This consists of a basic minimum wage pay of P286.00 and aggregate COLA of P15.00. While those in the agricultural sector will get P276.00 and those working in retail and service establishments with less than ten workers will receive P275.00.

According to Department of Labor and Employment –XI regional director Joffrey Suyao, the RTWPB  last September of 2011 on its own (motu propio) initiated a  hearing to determine the necessity of a wage increase in the region. The findings prompted the board to issue such COLA adjustment.

Suyao said that numerous hearings and deliberations were conducted, the tripartite board members armed with current data of regional economic indicators to ascertain the levels of adjustment. Suyao said that the wage order will help get reprieve for minimum wage earners constantly dealing with increasing prices of basic commodities.

Aside from the new minimum wage hikes, DOLE-XI will be conducting massive job fairs in two large malls in Davao City; the SM City Mall and the Gaisano Mall of Davao. These two-day job fairs will be held from May 1-2 as part of the May 1 Labor Day celebrations. (PIA 11/RG Alama)